Mooney Round The World Flight Project Amelia Earhart 1937 2017

[Piloto]

In the event of a ditch the closest rescue is from a vessel in the area. The vessels are alerted via Inmarsat of the PLB location. A plane like a C-130 or BE-200 will take hours to get to the location. I always carry a portable VHF marine handheld radio to alert the pilot on that nice cruise ship in the horizon because he is not looking in my direction. Smaller vessels don't have Inmarsat but they always listen on VHF channel 16. From 15,000ft you can reach them 100nm away.

World Maritime Routes

Edited July 8, 2017 by Piloto

[HRM]

Brian is stalled in NZ over a magneto issue. His spirits are high since he was able to let flying improve his mood. I especially liked this from his log:

                     OK, flying makes up for the FedEx Monty Python sketch.

 

[peevee]

Sure had a lot of mag problems.

[LANCECASPER]

The mags seem to be the weakest point on our airplanes - especially with pressurized mags on turbo airplanes and the harsh environment they work in. They are being pressurized with hot bleed air. The heat and the moisture really shortens the life. 

http://www.aviationpros.com/article/10388584/magnetos-under-pressure

http://www.ramaircraft.com/Maintenance-Tips/Pressurized-Magnetos.htm

https://www.avweb.com/news/savvyaviator/savvy_aviator_43_high_altitude_misfire_194870-1.html

[Piloto]

These mags are not designed to operate at low air density (high altitude). Air serves as an insulator for high voltage but as the air density is reduced the possibility of an arc is greater. This was a problem with the old magnetron radars and old satellites high power transmitters. The problem is usually resolved with conformal coating of high voltage insulation material on the prone arcing areas. A small cut on a spark plug lead could lead to arcing at altitude, so replacing the mag may not solve the problem.

José 

[peevee]

Probably just needs a piss tube and it'll be fine.

[jetdriven]

Bendix 1200 series magnetos were designed to operate at 25,000 ft without being pressurized. IDK if they offer those for the 231 but it would be very helpful.

for the others they sell a small filter for the pressurization line.

Edited July 12, 2017 by jetdriven

[carusoam]

If you have to spend time in any one place... NZ looks to be pretty nice.

Good luck Brian!

Best regards,

-a-

[BCrystal]

Brian Lloyd solo pilots his airplane "Spirit" round-the-world for the Project Amelia Earhart 80th Anniversary Flight. More info at http://projectameliaearhart.org
Video clip shows Brian in the cockpit at high altitude wearing oxygen mask while in flight from Karachi Pakistan to Kolkata India on 16 June 2017. Brian Lloyd is the first solo aviator to fly the historic Earhart equatorial route. 
Aircraft: Mooney M20K 231. Modified with additional fuel capacity, improved navigation, satellite and HF communications equipment, and Ham Radio (callsign WB6RQN/Aeronautical Mobile). 
Video by Brian Lloyd, used by permission: ©2017 Brian Lloyd CC-BY 2.0

 

 

Edited July 13, 2017 by BCrystal

[Piloto]

8 hours ago, BCrystal said:

Brian Lloyd solo pilots his airplane "Spirit" round-the-world for the Project Amelia Earhart 80th Anniversary Flight. More info at http://projectameliaearhart.org
Video clip shows Brian in the cockpit at high altitude wearing oxygen mask while in flight from Karachi Pakistan to Kolkata India on 16 June 2017. Brian Lloyd is the first solo aviator to fly the historic Earhart equatorial route. 
Aircraft: Mooney M20K 231. Modified with additional fuel capacity, improved navigation, satellite and HF communications equipment, and Ham Radio (callsign WB6RQN/Aeronautical Mobile). 
Video by Brian Lloyd, used by permission: ©2017 Brian Lloyd CC-BY 2.0

 

 

Like the video and love the mask.

[Saul Goodman]

Some newly discovered pictures & papers of Amelia Earhart in Karachi during her flight around the world.

 

 

[Piloto]

Cross winds between NZ and Samoa are close to 100kts at FL 180. At lower altitude they are slower. These high cross winds probably made Amelia to drift off the route. Without a working DF she would had never found Howland Island.

José

[Marauder]

OMG Peter Garmin! Someone is crazy enough to fly around the world relying on those pesky unreliable Aspens!


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[LANCECASPER]

1 minute ago, Marauder said:

OMG Peter Garmin! Someone is crazy enough to fly around the world relying on those pesky unreliable Aspens!
 

And an Avidyne . . .amazing he ever got out of Texas . . lol

[HRM]

13 minutes ago, LANCECASPER said:

...amazing he ever got out of Texas...

It is hard to leave Texas. The rest of the world is so _____ up.

[carusoam]

Takes a lot of patience to be a globe crosser... 

Is there anything we can do to help this pilot along?

MS has found ways to help Mooney pilots get to their next stops before... 

Best regards,

-a-

[Piloto]

11 hours ago, Marauder said:

OMG Peter Garmin! Someone is crazy enough to fly around the world relying on those pesky unreliable Aspens!


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So far the only avionics broken is the Micom HF but Amelia had the same problems with her HF.

José

[carusoam]

Say seeya to New Zeeland!

Next stop...  Pago Pago.  Just hours away...

The place is so good they named it twice, like NY NY...   

Best regards,

-a-

 

http://flightaware.com/live/flight/N916BL

[Simon]

On 07/12/2017 at 9:34 PM, carusoam said:

If you have to spend time in any one place... NZ looks to be pretty nice.

Good luck Brian!

Best regards,

-a-

Its a good place to visit and a good place to leave.

I was born there but prefer the US of A.

Used to say I like people more than trees.

[LANCECASPER]

15 hours ago, Piloto said:

So far the only avionics broken is the Micom HF but Amelia had the same problems with her HF.

José

I think they both flew through the Bermuda Triangle 

[Marauder]

Say seeya to New Zeeland!
Next stop...  Pago Pago.  Just hours away...
The place is so good they named it twice, like NY NY...   
Best regards,
-a-
 
http://flightaware.com/live/flight/N916BL

Something doesn't seem right. Why is his track log showing him so low?


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[BCrystal]

Update: Today, 15 July (New Zealand time) , as he was heading to Pago Pago, Brian was climbing out over the ocean at FL200 and the engine started surging. He had to turn back. He landed safely at the same airport in Hamilton, and is checking a fuel flow problem. This may cause multiple days of delay. The schedule has tentatively been pushed by about 5 days. Watch video 

 

Flight path of Spirit on 15 July 2017 when fuel flow problem caused Brian Lloyd to turn back to Hamilton New Zealand

Edited July 15, 2017 by BCrystal

[Danb]

The man is blessed, how ironic if the engine had it's difficulties 8-9 hours later.

[Piloto]

This sounds like water in the fuel, I had the same problem. Remove the drain valves from the tanks. Check for water in the fuel. If you see water the valve adapter plate drain holes are clogged replace the valves with the F-391-72.  Pull the gascolator ring and verify you have a good pee flow. If not the fuel screens in the tank may be partially clogged. Clean the fuel servo and gascolator filter screens.

Water does not get into the engine until the gascolator is full of it. When the water level has come down a little bit the engine will restart. If this happens over the Pacific shut the engine down, pull the gascolator ring for 15 seconds to drain the water, turn boost pump on and start the engine.

If the fuel is provided by 55 gallon drums do not get the fuel at the bottom of the drum. It may be contaminated with melaza or what ever the drum was used for before.

José

Edited July 15, 2017 by Piloto

[carusoam]

Great video from BL.

Take care.  It is better to be late to KOSH, than to not arrive at all...

Best regards,

-a-